Etymology

brownshirt

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Today it means: A uniformed member of the German Nazi Party (NSDAP), especially a storm trooper of the Sturmabteilung. Full definition →

German Braunhemd
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The story

  1. German · calque ofBraunhemd
  2. English todayBrownshirt

Calque of German Braunhemd, the nickname for a member of the Sturmabteilung, in reference to their brown uniforms. Equivalent to brown + shirt.

Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.